Burke said goodbye to family and friends before heading to Federal Correctional Institution Thomson in western Illinois, prison officials said Monday.
Thomson is about 150 miles west of Chicago, near the Iowa border.
Burke was expected to head to a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana to fulfill a two-year sentence for a corruption conviction, but ended up at the low-security federal prison in Illinois.
Burke initially asked to serve his term at Oxford prison in Wisconsin, north of the Burke family lake house.
But, with Oxford closing, Burke's attorneys filed paperwork asking that he be assigned to the Terre Haute penitentiary, west of Indianapolis.
The request also had the backing of his trial judge.
Even though convicts may request certain prisons, assignments are never up to any inmate.
For Burke, the only upside to not being in Indiana is that Thomson is an hour closer to his family, who will presumably spend nearly the next two years visiting, and waiting for his release.
Burke, who was found guilty of jilting the taxpayers, will now receive room and board courtesy of the taxpayers.
Burke had a 2 p.m. surrender deadline Monday, after the former 14th Ward alderman was convicted last year.
"I think the message you could send is when you're that powerful, and you have so many friends in high places, it can help you, even when you have to go to prison, because the prison sentence was relatively light," ABC7 political analyst Laura Washington said.
Washington said former Finance Committee Chairman Burke's two-year sentence in federal prison and $2 million fine was a minimal response from the court, but the fact that there was a sentence at all still makes a statement.
"I mean, when you think about power in Chicago, you think about someone being omniscient, being above everything," Washington said. "Well, clearly he's been taken down, and the fact that he's going to prison shows how."
The former Chicago alderman held the position for 54 years, the longest in city's history. He was seen as confident during countless investigations, indictment and trial, but that came to a halt last December when a jury found him guilty of racketeering and bribery, by using his position as alderman to extort private legal work from city contractors.
Burke was caught on undercover video in a clear-cut case of corruption that he fought and lost, but didn't appeal.
U.S. prosecutors, who had been after Burke for decades but never succeeded in taking him to trial, wanted a 10-year sentence.
The two-year federal sentence followed Burke's plea for mercy, but still represents a significant blow for an 80-year-old man who always seemed to relish the high life, notoriety and certain celebrity status.
Burke is the 38th person since 1968 to join the City Council's "hall of shame," saying after sentencing that "at least this chapter is over."
"You know, I think that the City Council and politicians of Chicago become almost numb to corruption, and almost unwilling or unable to realize that you can get caught, and that you can go to prison," Washington said.
But reality may have set in Monday for the flashy power broker. It's now the federal government calling the shots in his life, including where he will put his head down at night for the next two years.
Related coverage
Longest-serving Chicago alderman Ed Burke will report to prison Monday; unclear where he will serve
Ed Burke co-defendant Charles Cui sentenced to 32 months in prison
Chicago City Council ethics watchdogs say Ed Burke's sentence only partially deters corruption
Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke sentenced to 2 years in prison for corruption convictions
Hundreds write letters to judge in support of former Alderman Ed Burke ahead of sentencing
City leaders react after former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke found guilty in federal corruption case
Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke found guilty on multiple counts in federal corruption case
Ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke tried to 'shake down' owners of Burger King in his ward: new testimony
Former Field Museum director describes perceived threat during ex-Ald. Ed Burke Chicago trial
Alderman Ed Burke pleads not guilty to corruption charges
Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls on Alderman Ed Burke to resign after new charges filed against him
Real estate developer charged as result of Ald. Ed Burke investigation